Strap clamping and tensioning means



Em. 4, 1951 G. H. WINDSOR 2,576,936

STRAP CLAMPING AND TENSIONING MEANS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1944 INVENTOR. @50065 /7'. kVavaSQP Arr IVE/5 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 22517 5 STRAB o AMrmo AND TENSIONING- MEANS eorge. fi winde uiune Calif- Original; application February 12, 1944, Serial No. 522,1 9. new. Retest. No. 2,39 ,051, da ed De- 1 i5, Divided and this application. Sorial'No. 5 71,?14

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as. mal est. ehiii 1928; 3 757) The inven on. de c bed her in. ma he. menu: etured and used b or for he Ge erhnie er ser iznme l pu o Wit t he, payment. to me of any royalty thereon.

t is. n en i a div sio o my eerp ndins nplie t e Serial N 2.17 or L te Sup porti s App a d h February l2, 1.9%. whieh iss d Dece b r 1. 194.5 a Patent No. 2-.- l:, 5 a d; e a es o stra lampihs. and ten: oning me ns a i quick an con enientlyo era e eeh e ecurin ah el tv f lex ble connecters together, such as a of; superimose s rep members, or 011 ef ct n a. uie reeee of th s r p embe s and ha fe cheet- Qbiee e e r on of e mov b e ampin and t hsi hine member hi tehl-y dis sed. t e tre v me be s o m lt eo sly. s cure. h h x; ble Stre members. o ether t point i di ate e r. ehd h t o th end DOE-919115. oi he. ex e t e mem er-e. ward eaeh ther a onposite'sides of the clamping and tensioning mem; ber.

*Anether e ie t t e inv tio is. t e. e ey -r i n o ampi g a d ens e ihs means tor se. with flexible strap-likefmembers, arr fiee ive v t r eek he. c am in -mea s, tre membe to revent elati e movement h r be wee a d t r h h eusl me' e'the. end r o f t tr rlike ember ewercl h m i e means u i he. l mping ee eh. A "further object is the provision ot a strap clamping n tene ne i e mel-ud hs a ree v m g m m hav n a manuall 1?: e e l m in 1ever for movin the elempi s. mem r t e ns position, end n to rotate. the} clamping member while in contact with the s rap-like member o cause rea er m vement Of One f h e p n of the swan-l ke membere ow rd he a i member than the m ment ofthe other end portion of the strap l lge member.

O her bje ts an d t e Qt the in ention wil eeeme apparent, f o the lowin d seripir. tion. ake ih e n enwith the eeee h enying. e e n which ee e ence hereetere. re er to like. parts in the several figures.

Fi -"1 eh e e n view Qt m im roved clamping-and ten hing devi e showin th applied tov a pair of litter. supporting. strap members.

g; 2 is an enlarged side elevation oi my im prov d clamp n a d t i h h devi e. as.

his 4. l strating he. same n its fel eeed position.

h ou h my improved mp and tens onips. device as sh w i F 2, th the operatin lev r...

moved to clamping position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a slightlymodifiedi form of my invention; illustrating the clamping,-

and tensioning roller and the cammingv lever; in, release position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation. of the, device shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the. clamping, lever. and la in and nsi n ns r ll r in lamp n and tensioning position, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View illus trating a further modification of my invention.

having the clamping means, therefor disposed;

clamping and tensioning position.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3., of the drawings, the reference numeral 5 denotes, a vertically-disposed flexible sustaining member,

ap e to be secured at its ppos e ends. to. any.

tions extending upwardly against the adjacent. surfaces of the strap-like members 1,. and"8;andv

secured to e strap membe by the prev ously referred to stitching as shown in the draw; ings. The loop member ID is adapted to receive one of the handle members B. of a litter member A more fully disclosed in my cog-pendin'gi pre viously referred to Litter Supporting; Apparatus patent application. T

My improved strap clamping and tensioning means, indicated generally at I3, is disclosed as being slidably disposed on the supporting. mem-l beers 5' above the litter handle receiving loops? IQ.

The clamping and tensioning means. [3 each'come prise an elongated,- bhse. plate. [4, having laterally x endin rian u ar side flanges. 15;, projectin from the opposite sides of the base plate Mi, in

para le e ion to ach o her.

Extending across the strap engaging portion of. the, base plate {4, at oneend of the device in spaced parallel relation to the base plate is 'a retainer barv or plate [6, having: its opposite ends .seeured to. the two sidep ates. V

The strap receiving space between the retainer bar I6 and the adjacent surface of the base plate is only slightly greater than the thickness of the two strap portions I and 8 plus the thickness of the intermediate upturned ends of the U-shaped litter supporting loop member I so that the strap clamping and tensioning means is slidably retained on the flexible strap member 5, with the strap member extending between the bar 16 and the adjacent surface of the base plate, and between the two parallel side plates which project from the edges of the base plate.

The base plate I4 of the clamping device I3. has formed therein an elongated strap receiving slot II, extending across the base plate, between the side flanges I5, I5, adapted to receive the laterally crimped portion of the flexible strap mel her 5 therein, as best seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The side flanges I5, I5 have parallel guide slots or openings I8 formed therein, disposed in a plane extending midway through the slot I1, at right angles to the surface of the base plate I4. The portions of the side flanges I5, I5, adjacent the ends of the slot I! are extended beyond the plane of the surface of the base plate I4, and the guide slots or openings I8 extend from points substantially in the plane of the base plate to points adjacent the apex of the triangularshaped side flanges I5, I5.

A strap deflecting member, in the form of a roller'l9, is positioned between the side flanges I5, I5, and has reduced end extensions disposed in the guide slots or openings I8. This roller is arranged to be cammed into the slot H by a camming lever 2|, pivoted at 22 to the side flanges, beyond the ends of the guide slots or openings I8. The camming lever 2I comprises an angularly bent handle portion 23, reinforced at 24, having spaced eccentric camming plates 25 projecting laterally from the handle portion and disposed adjacent the inner faces of the side flanges I5, I5, of the base plate with the camming edges of the eccentric plates 25 disposed to engage the periphery of the roller I9 at its ends, ef-

fecting a rolling action on the roller as the same, 7

and the strap portions I and 8 are cammed into the slot I! in the base plate I4. The high points on the cam plate members 25 are disposed, with respect to the handle portion 23', so as to be moved past the camming contact points on the roller, when the camming lever 2| is moved to camming position, the angularly bent portion 23' constituting a stop means, retaining the free end of the lever 2| spaced from the base plate where it may be easily and conveniently grasped by the operator of the device, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings.

The relative width of the slot I! in the base plate I4, and the diameter, or width of the strap deflecting and crimping member or roller I9 are such that the spaces between the surface of the roller at its opposite sides, and the edges of the slot H, are approximately equal to the thickness of the layers of the strap being clamped, in order to obtain a positive clamping and holding eflect on the sustaining member 5 as the lever 2I is moved to its final clamping position.

AS before pointed out, the clamping members are slidably positioned on the sustaining members 5 one above each litter receiving opening formed between the two strap members of the sustaining member and the U-shaped loop member located between the two strap members. After the litter handles B are positioned in the loop portions, the clamping members are moved downwardly along the sustaining members 5 toward the loop portions, reducing the size of the loop openings to reduce the size of the loops around the handles.

As the clamping members are moved downwardly, as indicated above, the clamping levers 2| are moved from their released positions, as

seen in Figure 2 to their clamping and tensioning positions, as disclosed in Figure 3. The periphery of the eccentric camming plates 25 engage the roller members I9, forcing the same into the slots IT in the base plates I4, crimping the suspension members 5 and the upper portions of the loop members through the cross slot I1, effecting longitudinal movement thereof at opposite sides of the rollers, toward the openings, shortening the length of the suspension members 5. The operating engagement of the circular camming flanges25 with the surface of the rol1- ers I9 tends to cause rotation of the rollers, producing a tendency to cause further relative longitudinal movement of the strap and loop portions which are below the clamping members, toward the clamping members.

This action, and the crimping action of the rollers I9, on the strap portions above the litter sustaining portions of the loops produces a tension in the suspension members 5 between their secured ends, and a simultaneous tensioning of the strap portions I and 8 and the litter sustaining loop portions I5 extending around the handles B of the litters A.

As the clamping levers are moved to clamping position, the off-set or angle portions 23 of the levers 2I engage the surface of the strap portions maintaining the ends of the levers spaced from the straps, so that they may be easily grasped' l cam contact surfaces of the rollers, making the devices self-locking.

It should be observed that the camming roller I9 is moved substantially midway into the slot I'I, bending the crimped portion of the straps and loop members substantially at right angles, around the edges of the slot.

The modified form of clamping and tensioning device disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises a U- shaped bracket plate 21, fixed to one of the longitudinal members 28, forming a part of the supporting frame structure, as disclosed in my previously referred to co-pending application, to

which the opposite ends of the vertical sustainy ing member are fastened. The bracket plate. 21 j has a triangular-shaped clamping frame 29, piv-" oted at 30 to the lower portion thereof. I I

This clamping frame 29 comprises a base plate 3|, having triangular side plates, or flanges 32 to which a clamping lever 2I is pivoted,ras indicated at 22', guide slots I8 being formed in the side flanges 32, extending from points adjacent. the pivots 22 to points substantially in the plane 1 A clamping roller ISf. hav- 'ing end extensions 20 disposed in the guide slots of the base plate 3i.

This clamping or crimping of the straps between the edges of the: slot I1 and the roller I9, provides a very securea o me in. he base p ate Th -upn md portion of the base plate. 3! is curved as indie. ated at 32' in F s. 4 n n i provided wit aem sslot 3.3- Th lower e e of the p ate ad-v Jace tthe sl t 3. s 1e te or a meqth s dmg surface 34. for a litter ha dlesuppor n st ap m m er 35, anch red at ne d t a cr ss. shaft formingthe pivot between the bracket metal] and the. clamp ame, h strap exe tends. along the base plate 3| betweenthe same and thezroller- 19, passing out through the-slot 33 and under the roller f, then upwardly with its free end above the bracket 21. The strap 35 is folded on itself: as; indicated at 36, in Fig. 5 to provide three thicknesses which are sewed together, to provide an obstruction, which will not s e twe n. h relle and he. base v.e t bracket 21. This arrangement disposes the. clamping member 29 in an inclined relation to the bracket 21, with the portion 35a of the strap 35 inclining downwardly toward the bracket member, the curved portion 32 of the clamping member extending upwardly above the inclined strap portion 35a. 7 'When the apparatus-is put into use thehandles of the litters at one side thereof are first 'posi tinned on-v these inclined strap portions '35a, and are retained against lateral movement by the upstanding curved portions 32' of the clamping members. In order to firmly secure the litter handles resting on the. strap portions 35a, the free ends 352) of the straps are looped around the litter handles and brought through the clampingl members 23 over the strap portions 35 which are-next to the base plates 3| and are drawn't'aut by a downward pull on the free ends 350 of the straps. Manual operation of each of the clamping levers 2| moves the rollers I9 in a similar manner to the roller l9 in Figs. 2 and 3, tensioning the strap members around the litter handles, preventing vertical or lateral movement of the handles with respect to the U-shaped brackets carried by the supporting frame 28. The suspension members 5 firmly support the other sides of the litters with respect to the supporting framework, and their removal is very easily accomplished by simply moving the clamping levers to their release position and removing the litter handles from the loops H] in Figs. 1 to 3.

A further modification of the clamping and tensioning member is disclosed in Fig. 6. This form of the device comprises a flanged base plate 46 having upstanding side flanges 41. The base plate 46 has a strap crimping slot 48 formed therein between the side flanges 41, and a second slot 49 is formed in the base plate at one end thereof for receiving one end 50 or" one of the suspension strap members 5| similar to the suspension member 5 in Fig. 2.

A pivot rod 52 has its ends received in Openings in the Side flanges 41, this rod being spaced from the face of the base plate to provide sufficient clearance to receive the other end portion 5la of the other strap of the suspension member 5. A flanged strap clamping and tensionin plate 53 is pivoted at 54 on the rod 52, the free extremities of this plate 53 being bent laterally and then rebent, as indicated at 55 to form a strap deflecting tongue operable to pass midway into the slot 48 in the base plate. ference between the thickness of the said laterally bent portion 55 and the longitudinal edges of the The relative dif sla this, stilts aht ally e ual. m on sli htly-1 less, he -the' ds-les 0f. the str p. members .9 hathhe me me of t e terally -lbPQliime. 55 mtg theslo both tr nport ons of the su h nsienmehib r 5 a; a op osite sid of thev laterallyent.p r ion 5.5, a e u ly e t round ed eshf the l and c ampedbetween the at -ailm n PQI iO l55 and the e s o th shit 4. i pr n 55 urrou ds he aitiz one end f; e sh ine be ng se ure under a, pin 5. on ee: 9 the s d flan es 41, and th ot er end 9f t hrine. is g ed. n en a ement w the ba v the late, 53, exerti g, an utw I 0.1-1 the. p a t nd n ta ea e the s me 9=re1... e:p s tieh. Y n

a m iall ope able lan d ammi g late 5 1, pivoted t 5,9,- to t es de ang s 41' of the ase plate a d om ises. t oper in means for ma n th -c amping p ate- 53 to c am n po h thin, Th ide flan es. hf theeamm e la e 5.8. are formed with. QHIVQQ eamm ha e ges 69., ar ra ged t en a e the. op of the. c am ing. la e he -inst abo e he laterally t end vertex-15.5.- the side, a ge of t (l m i plat being 1 ether d i e he p r ery ft camming ed es il-t0. a point Ju t. opposite he ere s o hat th s d lan s l e t on t p or the. clampin p ate 5.3. it t fa of; hev c mmih lat su an ially us r ati to: he eheitud. a ,e t s de fla es 4 of the b pla efi I t i f rm o strep cl m in a J ens h i fink leris preferably used on the upper ends; of the suspension member 5 to initially adjust the ng h of he s en i n emb r-- 1 fla ing thus described myinvention, what-I e a m as ne a d e re to, S u by Lette s P t, is; .1 iast ah tehei mfhs and e hrihe i ie eh. elongated base plate having opposite parallel side flanges adapted to receive a strap member therebetween, said base plate having a strap receiving slot formed therein extending thereacross between the side flanges, guide slots formed in the side flanges at right angles to the plane of the base plate in a plane passing through the longitudinal center of the slot, an elongated cylindrical strap deflecting roller member having reduced axial extensions at its ends slidably mounted in said guide slots to move between a position spaced from said base plate to a strap deflecting and clamping position substantially midway between the opposite edges of the said strap receiving slot to deflect said strap member into said strap receiving slot and clamp the same between the cylindrical roller member and the edges of the slot, and a camming lever pivoted to the side flanges in a plane passing longitudinally through said strap receiving slot at right angles to the surface of the base plate, said camming lever having a circular camming surface disposed eccentrically of the pivot of said lever and engageable with the surface of the cylindrical strap deflecting roller member to rotate and cam said last-named roller member into said strap receiving slot upon swinging of said lever in one direction.

2. In a strap tensioning and securing device, an elongated base plate having parallel side flanges extending along its side edges at right angles to the base plate to receive a strap member therebetween, said base plate having a strap receiving slot extending thereacross between the said side flanges, said side flanges being formed with guide slots therein extending from points substantially in the plane of the base plate to points spaced laterally from the base plate, an elongated cylindrical clamping roller member rotatably disposed between said side flanges to move between a position in the strap receiving slot and a point between the side flanges and spaced from the base plate, said roller having a diameter equal substantially to the width of the strap receiving slot, less twice the thickness of the aforementioned strap member and having reduced axial guide extensions projecting therefrom into the guide slots, and a camming lever pivoted to said side flanges in a plane passing longitudinally through said guide slots and said strap receiving slot, formed with annular cam ming means adjacent the side plates, engageable with the cylindrical surface of the roller adjacent the side flanges, to rotatably cam said roller into the plane of said strap receiving slot upon actuatlon of said lever in one direction to clamp the said strap member between the roller and the edges of the strap receiving slot.

3. In a strap tensioning and securing device, an elongated base plate having opposite parallel side flanges extending along its side edges to receive a strap member therebetween, said base plate having a strap receiving slot extending thereacross between the side flanges, said side flanges having parallel guide slots formed therein, in a plane'extending at right angles to the surface of the base plate, passing through the centerv of said strap receiving slot, said guide slots ex: tending from points at least in the plane of the base plate to points materially spaced from the base plate, an elongated cylindrical roller member disposed between said side flanges having a diameter equal substantially to the width of the slot less twice the thickness of the strap member disposed between the side flanges, said roller member having axial extensions projecting therefrom into the said guide slots, and a camming lever having spaced parallel side flanges disposed between the side flanges of the base plate, in juxtaposed relation thereto, formed with circular camming portions adapted to engage the surface of said roller member adjacent its ends, and pivoted eccentrically of said circular camming sur-" faces to the side flanges of the base plate in a plane passing through said guide slots and said strap receiving slot, said lever having a handle portion bent angularly intermediate its length to engage the strap inwardly of the extremity of the lever when the lever is in strap clamping position.

GEORGE H. WDIDSOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 44,693 Tattershall Oct. 11, 1864 121,974 Turnbull Dec. 19, 1871 330,232 Hall Nov. 10, 1885 697,404 Grundy Apr. 8, 1902 697,710 Gebhard et al Apr. 15, 1902 815,205 Nelson Mar. 13, 1906 849,573 Ritz Apr. 9, 1907 855,675 Skinner et al. June 4, 1907 1,216,959 De Camp -i Feb. 20, 1917 1,599,342 Muhlfeld Sept. 7, 1926 2,060,628 McCormick Nov. 10, 1936 2,191,228 Dowd Feb. 20, 1940 2,287,722 Beazley June 23, 1942 2,336,818 Topinka, Dec. 14, 1943 2,363,872 Kiessling Nov. 28, 1944 

